School Newsletter Term 2, Week 8, 11th June 2021

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,
I would like to acknowledge how all of our students, staff and families have been able to be so adaptable and supportive in swinging into home learning and then returning to school. This is not easy on anyone, especially the children. The changes in routine and uncertainty can really take a toll. Below is the link to 'healthy families, beyond blue' which you may find helpful:
https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/age-6-12/mental-health-conditions-in-children/anxiety/strategies-to-support-anxious-children

Our recent lockdown has meant we have had to make a number of changes to our upcoming events.
The Year 3/4 camp will now be held next Wednesday 16th - Friday 18th June. The Sacrament of Confirmation for those children who did not receive this prior to lockdown will be advised. Pizza Day is now going to be Wednesday 23rd June - the last week of term to enable Year 3/4 students to be involved.
Learning Conferences will take place in the last week of term. Please make an appointment through PAM. These conferences are a valuable and important individual time with your child's classroom teacher to share their achievements across the Semester. We will advise next week how these Interviews will be conducted.
Student formal reports will also be opened up next week on PAM.  Parents will be able to access and read these reports in readiness for Learning Conferences.

Recently, the Church celebrated Trinity Sunday, (the first Sunday after Pentecost Sunday). It recognises that of one God in three persons - the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity describes the foundational nature of God's character - relationship and communion.
'As we move through these uncertain times, may God's binding relationship, of peace and love in the form of the Holy Spirit, walk together with us, and fill us with strength to meet each new day.'

Wishing all families a very safe and restful long weekend.

Many blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

Happy Birthday to...

Campbell - Year 5    Jayda - Year 4    Hayden - Year 5   

Penelope - Foundation   Judd  - Year 3   Aidan- Year 6

Isaac - Foundation    Mackenzie - Year 5      Anna - Year 4      Patrick - Year 2

Parents & Friends

Child Safety

St. Augustine's Primary School Maryborough demonstrates a strong commitment to the care, safety and wellbeing of all students at our school.

Each fortnight we will be sharing information around child safety and the obligations that we have as a school and staff. Below you will find a copy of our Child Safe Policy. All policies are accessible on our website at samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

Supervision of Students Information for Parents

ENROLMENT

We will soon be looking at enrolment numbers for 2022. If your family is not returning to St. Augustine's next year please advise us via email to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

Likewise, if you have another child or know of someone who has a school age child for 2022, please contact the school.

An 'Application for Enrolment' form, as per link below, needs to be completed and emailed to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

Alternatively, forms are also available in the school office.

We will be contacting families in Term 3 when we commence the enrolment interview process. 

STAR Students

At St Augustine's we are a SWPBIS school (School Wide Positive Behaviour in School) and we have a STAR culture. STAR stands for:

S  - stay safe

T  - take pride

A  - act justly

R  - respond positively

Just like children are explicitly taught academics, acceptable behaviour is also explicitly taught. STAR awards are given at Assembly each fortnight, exceptional STARs are sent a postcard which qualifies them to morning tea with the Principal at the end of the term.

STAR lessons are taught around a nominated behaviour blitz. Children are taught how to be a STAR in all places they go and what the acceptable behaviour looks like. Examples of a lessons: how to stay safe in class, in the library, the toilet, at the bus stop, on the playground or when walking to the swimming pool.

School Fees and Payment Information

Canteen

Canteen will be open every Friday. All orders must be placed through CDFPay by 9.30am each Friday. No cash is accepted.  Please see link below and instructions for setup.

Helpers

We will continue to put a call out for helpers for canteen every Monday on Class Dojo. If you are able to assist, could you please contact Nicole Brittnell on 0429440696. We need a volunteer for the 10am timeslot and a volunteer for the 12.30pm timeslot each Friday. If you can help out it would be greatly appreciated.

All helpers will need to have a Volunteer or Employee Working With Children card. Volunteer cards are free. Click on the link below for applications.

Uniform Shop

All children must be in full winter uniform now. Pictures below show what is expected to be worn for Winter uniform.

Please make all uniform purchases through the CDFPay portal.

All orders will continue to be filled once a week and sent home with your child. If you have any uniform enquiries, please contact the school office. We do exchange uniform. Bring the uniform item to the office and the uniform shop will exchange it on the day they come to fill orders.

Parish News

Please see link below for the latest Parish Bulletin.

PAM - Parent Access Module

We require families to complete and update their child/ren’s medical details and contact information through PAM as changes occur.  This information is mandatory and vital in the case of an emergency.   It is important that if you have any change to your contact numbers, including work place, mobile, home number, that these be updated through PAM.

To complete your child/rens medical profile including contact information, go to PAM, click on your child/rens name, go to 'Medical Profile' and click 'Edit Details'. Complete details then click in the box at the bottom of the page to confirm the details are correct and click ‘Update Details’.

If you have any questions or require your login details, please contact the school office.

COVID Guidlines

Student Illness & Absence

If your child is unwell please keep them at home.

This includes coughs, colds, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea and any other contagious illnesses.  

Coughs & Colds

Children can return to school once symptoms have eased and they are not actively coughing or blowing their nose.  

Vomitting & Diarrhea

Children can return to school 48 hours after the last episode.

We will send children home if they present with any of these symptoms whilst at school.

Notifying Absences

All absentee notifications should be recorded either through the Parent Access Module (PAM) or directly to the school office by phone or email to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au prior to 9.30am on the day of the absence. Please do not send notes of absence through to classroom teachers on Class Dojo as they may be absent or unable to check messages prior to commencement of class.

If a student is absent and we have not received any form of notification by 9.30am, a text message will be sent to parents asking them to call the office or send a reply text. 

VIRUS ALERT

There has been a number of cases within our community of Hand, Foot & Mouth. Please see the attached information sheet for further details on the virus and what to watch for.

Book Club

Community Notices

Parking & Road Safety

There are three minute parking bays in Burke Street outside the school entrance.  Your co-operation in only parking in this area for the specified time would be appreciated.  These parking bays are for quick pick up and drop off for students leaving early due to appointments and illness.

Likewise we also ask parents to respect the parking restriction on the disabled parking area. 

Thank you for your co-operation.

Please observe road rules around our school for the safety of all of our children.

* Schools have 40km zone.

* Parking behind the church & tennis courts is STAFF ONLY parking.

* Please use the children's crossing on Burns, Kars St and Burke St.

* For safety purposes, please avoid letting your children exit or enter a car whilst on the road or stopped at the     crossings.

Bus Travel

Bus travel on the country buses is available for students at St Augustine’s School and arrangements are made through the bus co-ordinator, Stephen Broad, at the Maryborough Education Centre on 5461 7900.  Parents of the student/s must organise the pass through MEC at least two days prior to travel. Students cannot travel on the country buses without a pass. The town bus does not require a pass but costs 50cents a trip, payable on the day of travel.  Please advise the office if your child will be travelling on any of the buses so we can update our bus rolls.

IMPORTANT

All bus travel requires parents/guardians to complete a Public Transport Victoria (PTV) Application for Permission to Travel form prior to any bus travel. This form can be emailed direct to Stephen Broad at MEC, Stephen.Broad@education.vic.edu.au. It is important that this form is completed as these details will be used in the event of an emergency.

Advanced dates for your diary

School Closure Days 

Monday 16th August - Religious Education, Staff Personal Development Day

Tuesday 17th August - Literacy, Staff Personal Development Day 1

Monday 4th October - Visible Learning, Staff Curriculum Day

Wednesday  17th November - Literacy, Staff Personal Development Day 2

Monday 31st January - Visible Learning, Staff Curriculum Day

Children do not attend school on these days.